Maria Eugenia Bozzoli
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María Eugenia Bozzoli (also, María Eugenia Bozzoli Vargas and María Eugenia Bozzoli de Wille; born 26 May 1935, in San Marcos de Tarrazú) is a Costa Rican anthropologist, sociologist and human rights activist. She is one of the founders of anthropology in Costa Rica, as well as the country's first woman anthropologist.


Early years and education

Born in San Marcos de Tarrazú on 26 May 1935, Bozzoli is the daughter of Benilda Vargas Blanco and Fermin Bozzoli Zúñiga. She matriculated from San José's in 1952. Bozzoli lived in the
U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
for six years in the 1950s during her studies at the
University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
(Bachelor's Degree, archaeology; Master's Degree, archaeology).


Career

In 1959, Bozzoli became a professor of cultural anthropology at the
University of Costa Rica The University of Costa Rica (Spanish: ''Universidad de Costa Rica,'' abbreviated UCR) is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro Mo ...
. The
Society for Applied Anthropology The Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) is a worldwide organization for the Applied Social Sciences, established "to promote the integration of anthropological perspectives and methods in solving human problems throughout the world; to advocate ...
, states that she is "known for her defense of the rights of ethnic minorities, her efforts for the recognition, respect and tolerance of cultural diversity, and her advocacy for conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment". Her work has concentrated on investigating the cultural history of the Amerindian indigenous population, and looking for alternatives for national development by studying diversity in her country's past. She is particularly adept at understanding social issues facing her country's indigenous people. As a result, during the course of her career, she has worked with numerous government institutions, including the social welfare institute, the electricity institute regarding issues of resettlement with dam building projects, and the Ministry of Natural Resources to ensure sustainable development in Costa Rica. Bozzoli earned a Ph.D. in anthropology at the
University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...
in 1975. Thereafter, she served as Director of the Council and as Vice President of Social Action at the University of Costa Rica (1976–1981). and authored ''Birth and Death in the Belief System of the Bribri Indians of Costa Rica'' (1979). In 1981, Bozzoli was awarded a
Fulbright The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...
fellowship and taught at
Louisiana State University Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
. In 1992, she became ''professor emerita'' at the University of Costa Rica; in 1998, she was a visiting professor at the
University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
; and in 2000, she was elected to the Council of the . In 1962 Bozzoli began teaching at the Universidad de Costa Rica and remained there.MARIA EUGENIA BOZZOLI2000 BRONISLAW MALINOWSKI AWARD RECIPIENT
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Honors

Bozzoli, one of the founders of anthropology in Costa Rica, was the country's first woman anthropologist. In 2000, she was awarded the
Bronislaw Malinowski Award The Bronislaw Malinowski Award is an award given by the US-based Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) in honor of Bronisław Malinowski (1884–1942), an original member and strong supporter of the Society. Briefly established in 1950, the award ...
, and in the following year, she was the
Magón National Prize for Culture The Magón National Prize for Culture ''(Premio Nacional de Cultura Magón)'' is an award given by the government of Costa Rica, through its Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sport, to a Costa Rican citizen in recognition of their life's work in the ...
recipient. The Museo de Culturas Indígenas Doctora María Eugenia Bozzoli, in
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to: Places *El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain *Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines *Puerto Colombia, Colombia *Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela *Puerto Galera, Orient ...
, is named in her honor.


Personal life

While studying at the University of Kansas for her Bachelor's Degree, she met the Costa Rican entomologist, , and they married. Bozzoli's daughter, Leticia, attended the University of Kansas, as did Bozzoli's siblings, Ricardo, Fernando, and Virginia.


References


Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bozzoli, Maria Eugenia 1935 births Living people Costa Rican anthropologists Costa Rican women anthropologists People from San José Province Costa Rican people of Italian descent Costa Rican sociologists Costa Rican women sociologists Academic staff of the University of Costa Rica University of Kansas alumni University of Georgia alumni Costa Rican human rights activists Costa Rican women activists Louisiana State University faculty